Srinagar, July 28: Hundreds of commuters across Srinagar are facing growing hardship due to the acute shortage of public transport during evening hours, with many alleging that buses, minibuses and shared cabs virtually disappear from major routes after sunset, leaving passengers stranded and forcing them to pay exorbitant fares.

Office-goers, students, patients and daily wage workers say commuting has become increasingly difficult, particularly between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, when public transport services are at their weakest. Long queues at bus stops have become a common sight as passengers wait for extended periods with little assurance of getting a ride.
Several commuters complained that public transport operators often stop operating early or divert to shorter routes, creating a severe shortage on key city and suburban routes. As a result, many passengers are compelled to hire private taxis charging fares several times higher than the prescribed rates.
"The situation has become unbearable. After office hours, it is nearly impossible to find a bus. We either wait endlessly or spend a significant amount on private transport," said a commuter from Bemina.
Students returning from coaching centres and colleges expressed similar concerns, saying they frequently reach home late due to the lack of transport. Women commuters also voiced safety concerns, stating that prolonged waits at isolated bus stops during the evening increase their vulnerability.
Residents from areas including Budgam Road, Nowgam, Hyderpora, Bemina, Soura, Hazratbal, Eidgah, Batamaloo, Chanapora, Rawalpora, Zainakote and the city outskirts said the shortage has persisted for months despite repeated complaints.
Many alleged that some operators deliberately reduce services during evening hours while others demand inflated fares from passengers heading towards distant localities. Commuters urged authorities to conduct regular inspections and take action against transport operators violating route permits or overcharging passengers.
Transport experts believe the problem stems from inadequate fleet management, poor monitoring of route operations and the absence of an effective evening transport plan despite increasing passenger demand.
Commuters have appealed to the Transport Department and Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir to ensure the availability of adequate public transport during peak evening hours. They have also sought deployment of additional buses on high-demand routes, strict enforcement against overcharging and a dedicated mechanism to monitor transport services after office hours.
Residents say improving evening public transport is essential not only for convenience but also for ensuring affordable, safe and reliable mobility for thousands of people who depend on public transport every day. They hope the authorities will address the issue promptly to ease the daily struggle of commuters across Srinagar.